Oscar Pistorius following his bail hearing, as his brother Carl, center, and father Henke look on, in Pretoria, South Africa. / Masi Losi, AP

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - A judge in South Africa says Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, can leave South Africa to compete in international competition, with conditions.

Judge Bert Bam says the Olympic and Paralympic athlete must provide authorities with his travel plans at least a week before he leaves the country. He must also return his passport to the court within 24 hours of returning to South Africa

Pistorius' lawyers said in the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday that he had no immediate plans to compete, but might eventually need to run at track meets again to earn money.

Pistorius' lawyers say that the double-amputee runner, who is charged with murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend on Feb. 14, was being treated as a flight risk even though a magistrate ruled last month that he was not when he released Pistorius on bail.

Pistorius was not present for the appeal.

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